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Are you looking for a dog that is sweet-natured that would keep intruders out of your home? That may seem like an oxymoron of characteristics; however, we’re here to tell you about the Saint Shepherd.
You may not be familiar with the Saint Shepherd, and that’s OK. This is a relatively new dog breed.
We’ve put together some information about the Saint Shepherd to help you decide if this is the right dog for you and your family. Let’s get started!
What is a Saint Shepherd?
The Saint Shepherd is a hybrid dog breed that’s a mix of a purebred Saint Bernard with a purebred German Shepherd. Since these are both large dog breeds, you can expect the Saint Shepherd to be a large or giant dog.
Not much is known about the history of these dogs because they are fairly new. However, we can learn something about the dogs by looking at their purebred parents.
Quick Overview of the Saint Bernard
The Saint Bernard originally comes from Switzerland, where they were bred by monks to help travelers through the mountain passes of Switzerland. The dogs get their name from the St. Bernard Pass where they were first developed.
Saint Bernards are popular dogs that have often been used in TV shows and movies. These gentle giants are highly intelligent and sweet-natured. They’re also gentle and kind dogs. Saint Bernards are giant, muscular dogs that come in short-haired and long-haired types.
While these are working dogs, they also make great family companions. The dogs do well with kids and love to snuggle with their families. This is a dog who may believe he’s a lapdog without realizing his size!
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Ask a Vet Live NowThe German Shepherd
The other purebred parent of the Saint Shepherd is the German Shepherd. These dogs originally came from Germany, where they were first bred to drive and protect cattle. Today, this is still a working dog breed; however, they also make great family companions.
German Shepherds can do many jobs, including leading the blind, police work, sniffer dogs, working with the military, visiting the sick, search & rescue, and herding. This is a very versatile dog breed.
These dogs are highly intelligent and have plenty of energy. They need a lot of exercise to keep from becoming bored and destructive. In addition, German Shepherds are wary of strangers and make great watchdogs. They are very attached to their families and don’t do well left alone for long periods of time. The dogs can develop separation anxiety and become destructive or develop other unwanted behaviors.
So, these are the purebred parents of the Saint Shepherd! How could you go wrong with one of these dogs when they have parents like these?
Saint Shepherds usually stand between 25 to 28 in tall and weigh between 85 to 140 lbs. They have a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years.
Saint Shepherd Appearance
The Saint Shepherd is a hybrid dog that randomly inherits his genes from both purebred parents. That means even puppies in the same litter may look a little different from one another.
However, the Saint Shepherd usually has a large head, floppy ears, and dark brown, oval eyes. They also have a short to medium muzzle and a black nose. The dogs also have thick muscles, strong legs, and straight backs. Their faces are usually black or dark brown, with bodies that are white, brown, and black, white & brown, or black & brown.
These dogs have a thick, double coat that keeps them warm in the winter. For this reason, the dogs don’t do well in hotter climates. If you live in a place that’s hot and humid, your Saint Shepherd will need to stay in an air-conditioned home when it’s hot out.
Saint Shepherd Temperament
Saint Shepherds are highly intelligent dogs that have the best of both parents when it comes to temperament. These dogs are quite affectionate with their families and don’t do well when left alone for long periods. They can develop separation anxiety. And they may sometimes try to be a lapdog, so watch out! These dogs may not realize their size when they try to sit on your lap.
The dogs learn commands very quickly, and they’re eager to please. These are both traits that make the Saint Shepherd easy to train.
While these dogs are gentle with kids, they’re usually best for families that have older kids. That’s because the dogs may get excited when they play. Being large dogs, they may forget their size and easily knock over a toddler.
What’s more, the dogs are highly protective of their families. They keep an eye on kids to make sure they’re safe, and the dogs guard their homes pretty well, too.
Do Saint Shepherds Get Along with Other Pets?
The answer depends on which parent the dog takes after. If the dog is more like their German Shepherd parent, then he may not get along well with other dogs. However, if they’re more like their Saint Bernard parent, the dog will be loving with most animals.
It’s imperative that these dogs are trained and socialized from a young age. This process helps the dogs become confident and learn how to behave in different environments, with other people, and how to live with other pets.
Food & Diet
Saint Shepherds are very large dogs, and they do eat a lot. The dogs need between 4 to 8 cups of food a day, divided between two to three meals.
Your Saint Shepherd will thrive on a high-protein diet; you can buy dry kibble that’s specifically formulated for large, active dog breeds.
Exercise
The Saint Shepherd can have a lot of energy, though they also like to spend time lounging with you in the evenings. In addition, these dogs are prone to obesity. So, they do best on at least 60 to 90 minutes of exercise every day.
These dogs love long walks, playing outside, swimming, agility training, and more.
Summing It Up
There you have it! Saint Shepherds are large to giant dogs that love being with their families. They’re very gentle and sweet-natured, though they are also very protective of their families and homes. What’s more, the dogs do well with kids!
We’re pretty sure if you choose to adopt a Saint Shepherd, you’ll have plenty of love and snuggles for years to come!
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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